Dadaism

noun

Da·​da·​ism ˈdä-(ˌ)dä-ˌi-zəm 

variants or less commonly dadaism

: dada:

a

: a movement in art and literature based on deliberate irrationality and negation of traditional artistic values

… artists of the day who were influenced by contemporary European art movements like Dadaism and Futurism …

—E. J. Montini

b

: the art and literature produced by this movement

… comes up with an entertainingly imbecilic musical comedy—a piece of pop Dadaism.

—Pauline Kael

dadaist

ˈdä-(ˌ)dä-ˌist 

noun or adjective often capitalized

dadaistic

ˌdä-dä-ˈi-stik 

adjective often capitalized

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Glaser's works include a poster for the Ambler Music Festival, an advertisement for the Valentine typewriter sold by Olivetti, and a poster for an exhibition on dadaism and surrealism. —Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 30 May 2018

Deadpool, more than any other Marvel Comics hero, huffs the fumes of plot dadaism, which fits Wilson's eff-the-world attitude to a tee. —Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 17 May 2018

Word History

Etymology

French dadaïsme

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined above